Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl takes leave of absence for family illness

The Edmonton Oilers will forge ahead with three goalies on their NHL roster, but will be without superstar Leon Draisaitl in the short term, the team announced on Saturday.

Draisaitl will not play tonight in Vancouver, at home Sunday against St. Louis and likely beyond that, having returned to his family home in Cologne, Germany, on Friday due to what the team described as “a family illness.”

The Oilers released a statement just prior to their morning skate at Rogers Arena in Vancouver ahead of their Saturday night tilt (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT).

“Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will be taking a brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany. He is expected to return to the team later next week.

“On behalf of Leon, the club asks for privacy at this time.”

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Draisaitl’s family was in Edmonton only last Saturday to celebrate his 1,000th National Hockey League point. This return to Germany was unexpected and is open-ended, as the 30-year-old makes the long flight home to be with family.

Meanwhile, the team will also be keeping goaltender Connor Ingram on its active roster after Saturday, the final day he could have been optioned to the American Hockey League without requiring waivers. Ingram is slated to start Sunday against the Blues on a night the team will celebrate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 1,000th game.

Ingram’s increasingly efficient play has convinced management that further starts in Bakersfield are not necessary. In fact, he will almost certainly share the net with Tristan Jarry as Calvin Pickard assumes the No. 3 role.

The team travelled just two goalies to Vancouver — Jarry (expected to start) and Pickard — leaving Ingram behind in Edmonton to prepare for his Sunday start against St. Louis.

Here’s a look at the strategy surrounding the Oilers goalies:

• First and foremost, with Jarry’s injury-plagued year, subjecting Pickard to waivers is deemed too risky — especially with the Philadelphia Flyers’ goalie department currently in a state of flux. For general manager Stan Bowman, carrying three goalies is preferable to suddenly finding himself with Ingram, an injured Jarry and wishing he’d have hung on to the veteran backup Pickard.

• Ingram’s game has steadily improved since arriving on Dec. 19. In eight starts, he’s forged excellent numbers — a .907 save percentage and a 2.49 goals against average, both tops among the three Oilers netminders. In Ingram’s past four starts, he has a .933 save percentage and a 1.73 GAA.

• With Adam Henrique and his $3 million AAV currently on long-term injured reserve, there is plenty of room under the cap — for now. Bowman should be able to carry three goalies through the Olympic break, with the pinch point coming when Henrique is ready to be activated afterward.

If someone else gets injured, there is every chance the Oilers manage until the trade deadline, when every dollar will count.

After tonight’s Hockey Day in Canada game in Vancouver, the Oilers play eight straight home games. That eases the practice issues of having three goalies, with ample practice time and ice available at Rogers Place to keep three goalies sharp. Edmonton closes its pre-Olympic schedule with one road game in Calgary, and barring the unforeseen, will carry all three goalies through the break.